My new Ski Erg is supposed to be arriving tomorrow. I have the model D rower and various weights already in the basement. We gave our life Fitness elliptical trainer to my brother in laws family to make room for the new machine. The elliptical is a great rehab tool for people recovering from injury or people that have heart issues and need to take it slow and easy. I loved it for that purpose. But as I get older I need more for my core since I sit down at work all day. I see guys with big guts biking for exercise so even though it is a workout its not putting the work where it is needed most. I am looking forward to a different way to get cardio but also work my core. I don't do sit ups anymore. I mostly do various styles of leg lifts or various style crunches on an exercise ball. Doing cleans and squats gets my core as well as does punching the bag, or anything that involves standing. My workouts have changed to interval style sets. No more moving through the individual muscle groups one at a time. I can change just one of my sets in the interval each time I workout to focus on the area that needs it most while also engaging the supporting muscles involved in that movement. My goal is to feel strong all the time and feel invigorated after a hard workout. Not like I just got my butt kicked from a 6 mile run and I don't want to do anything else the rest of the day.

Skjchaney wrote:I see guys with big guts biking for exercise so even though it is a workout its not putting the work where it is needed most.

The good thing about cycling is that you can go out for a 3 hour ride and not be bored out of your skull. Running, because it is less efficient, is certainly more efficient at burning calories, but my knees can't handle it, so I stick to the bike and the erg.

Finally, the best way to get rid of a "big gut" isn't to "work where it is needed" but to 1) consume fewer calories, and 2) burn more calories.

Ombrax wrote:The good thing about cycling is that you can go out for a 3 hour ride and not be bored out of your skull. Running, because it is less efficient, is certainly more efficient at burning calories, but my knees can't handle it, so I stick to the bike and the erg.Finally, the best way to get rid of a "big gut" isn't to "work where it is needed" but to 1) consume fewer calories, and 2) burn more calories.